Causes and Risk Factors for Male-Factor Infertility in Nigeria: A Review

Abarikwu
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
REVIEW ARTICLE
Causes and Risk Factors for Male-Factor Infertility in Nigeria:
A Review
Sunny O. Abarikwu
Department of Chemical Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Redemption Camp, Ogun State Nigeria
*For correspondence: Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; Phone: +234-80-30505464
Abstract
In recent times there has been a decline in the semen quality of young healthy men worldwide, with similar findings being
reported in Nigeria. Although little is known about what is responsible for the decline in male sperm count worldwide, significant
associations have been reported between impaired semen quality including sperm count, motility as well as morphology and
exposures to heavy metals such as cadmium and lead, mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, pesticides, industrial chemicals and
endocrine factors. In Nigeria, the problem is further compounded by a variety of factors such as sexually transmitted infections,
genito-urinary tract infections/inflammations and deficiencies of dietary antioxidant nutrients, thereby increasing male-factor
contribution to infertility in the population. In this article, we analyze data from different sources and present evidence of the
possible etiology and risk factors for male-factor infertility in Nigeria. (Afr J Reprod Health 2013; 17[4]: 150-166).
Keywords: Semen quality, Nigeria, Male infertility, etiology, men
Résumé
Récemment, il y a eu une baisse de la qualité du sperme des jeunes hommes en bonne santé dans le monde et les résultats
similaires ont été rapportés au Nigeria. Bien qu’on sache peu de ce qui est responsable de la baisse du nombre de
spermatozoïdes chez les hommes dans le monde entier, l’on a rapporté des associations significatives entre la qualité du sperme
affaibli, y compris le nombre de spermatozoïdes, la motilité aussi bien que la morphologie et l'exposition à des métaux lourd s
comme le cadmium et le plomb, les mycotoxines telles que les aflatoxines, les pesticides,les produits chimiques industriels et les
facteurs endocriniens . En Afrique tropicale, comme le Nigeria, le problème est encore aggravé par une variété de facteurs tels
que les infections sexuellement transmissibles, les infections des voies urogénitales / inflammations et les carences de nutriments
antioxydants alimentaires, augmentant ainsi la contribution masculine à la stérilité chez la population nigériane. Dans cet article,
nous essayons d'analyser les données provenant de nombreuses sources différentes sur l'étiologie de la stérilité masculine due à
des paramètres du sperme affaibli chez les hommes nigérians. (Afr J Reprod Health 2013; 17[4]: 150-166).
Mots-clés: qualité de la semence, Nigeria, stérilité masculine, étiologie, hommes
Introduction
Male-factor infertility is a well-known health issue
all over the world including Africa and other
developing countries; it presents a particularly
vexing clinical problem. It has been estimated that
infertility of couples affects 10-15% of the general
population1. The prevalent rate varies between and
within countries. For instance, in the United
Kingdom and the United States of America it is
estimated to be 6% and 10% respectively2. In
Denmark, it is estimated to be in the region of
15.7% (Schmidt et al., 1995)3. In Nigeria and some
parts of sub-Saharan Africa including the Republic
of Sudan and Cameroon, infertility rate could
exceed 30%4,5,6. Some studies reported in Southeastern Nigeria, have demonstrated a 65% and
35% prevalent rate for primary and secondary
infertility respectively (Table 1)7. Similarly, some
countries, most notably Kenya, Gabon, Botswana,
Zimbabwe and many other African countries, have
shown a trend toward lower fertility4,8,910. The high
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):150
Abarikwu
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
level of infertility in Africa is due largely to
reproductive tract infections which may be
associated with abnormal semen parameters and
low sperm count 2,7,8. In about 60% of all couples
experiencing infertility, male factor is responsible
in about 40% of the couples9. The male factor is
associated with a greater percentage of cases of
primary rather than secondary infertility9. This was
reported to be as high as 59% in France11, 35% in
Nigeria1, 26%–32 % in the UK and Kashmir
Valley in India, and about 36% in South Africa,
Indonesia and Finland12,13.
Infertility is a problem of public health
importance in Nigeria and many other developing
nations because of its high prevalence and its
serious social implications on affected couples and
families. The public health implications are even
greater when one considers that these conditions
represent the consequence of other disease
problems, each of which may have additional risks
to personal health for both couples and place
additional burdens on the health service8. In
addition, infertility leading to depopulation of
some areas limits the social and economic
development of a region. When efforts to have
children by infertile couples are unsuccessful,
feelings of helplessness, frustration and despair are
common; it can be a major life crisis for many
couples. They go through enormous emotional
crisis and psychological distress, as their friends
and peers begin to have children. It is now
generally accepted that male factor infertility is
equally as important as the female factor. In this
review article on male factor infertility among
Nigeria males, the causes of infertility in the male
population are analyzed.
Evidence for Impaired Male Reproductive Health
Worldwide
Historic data showed that the bulk of young men
in the 1940s had sperm counts far above 40
million per ml with averages higher than 100
million per ml. A semen sample should ideally
contain more than 40 million sperm per ml in
order to be considered normal14. World Health
Organization guidelines suggest that the cut off
value for a normal semen sample should be 20
million sperm per ejaculate, with 50% motility and
60% normal morphology. These indicate that if the
concentration is less than 20 million sperm per
milliliter of ejaculate, fertility may be impaired.
Notwithstanding, if the sperm show adequate
forward motility concentrations as low as 5 to 10
million can produce a pregnancy15. Hence, some
andrologists have suggested a lower limit of
normal of 10-15 million per mil14. On the contrary,
others have suggested 48 million per ml and 55
million per ml, as the lowest values of the normal
range for sperm counts14 .Based on data available
in the literature on sperm count, only a small
proportion of males will have sperm values that
satisfy these ideal figures in today's Western
industrialized countries. Not only are sperm counts
decreasing, the proportion of sperm with abnormal
morphology and reduced motility is also
increasing. For example, the proportion of sperm
with abnormal morphology increased (from 26%
to 45%) and sperm motility decreased16 in a
Danish study while in Oslo, Norway, the
proportion of abnormal sperm rose from 40% to
59% between 1966 and 198617. A Belgian study
also found that the proportion of sperm with
normal morphology decreased from 39.2% in the
period 1977-1980 to 26.6% in 1990-1995 and their
Table 1: Type of infertility according to
mean percentage motility decreased from 52.7 to
aetiological factors in infertile Nigerian couples
31.7%18. Some studies have suggested that the
Aetiological Primary
Secondary
Total no. (%) semen quality of sperm of young men in Northern
factor
infertility
infertility no.
Europe is declining19. Other reports have
no. (%)
(%)
confirmed the presence of extraordinarily poor
Male only
91 (68.4%)
42 (31.6%)
133 (42.4%)
semen quality among otherwise healthy young
Female only
49 (60.5%)
32 (39.5%)
81 (25.8%)
men in the general population20.
Both
43 (66.2%)
22 (33.8%)
65 (20.7%)
Carlsen and colleagues first raised the
partners
Unexplained 21 (60.0%)
14 (40.0%)
35 (11.1%)
possibility of a substantial fall in male fertility
Total
204 (65.0%)
110 (35.0%)
314 (100.0%) levels in 1992. They reported that sperm
concentration in healthy men appeared to have
Source: Ikechebelu et al7
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):151
Abarikwu
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
dropped from 113 million/ml in 1940 to 66
million/ml in 1990 21. Carlsen data showed that
sperm count declined to 71.2 million/ml in Ibadan,
Nigeria,22 54.6 million/ml in Lagos, Nigeria,23 65.0
million/ml in Salem, Libya,24 66.9 million/ml in
Dar Es salaam, Tanzania25 and 57.4 million/ml in
Copenhagen, Denmark26. Subsequent studies have
confirmed and strengthened Carlsen's findings
(Table 2).
Table 2: Reports on the sperm counts of fertile
men in different countries of the world in five (5)
decades
Author and Year
of
study/publication
Hotchkiss et al104
Macleod and Heim105
Macleod and Gold106
Nelson and
Bunge107
Rehan et al108
Sturde et al109
Bahamondes et al110
Ladipo223
Aabyholm111
Sheriff 24
Wang et al 112
Osegbe et al23
Chan and Wang113
Kirei25
Barrat et al114
Pol et al 115
Rehan108
Fisch et al116
Fisch et al116
Benshushan et al117
Anderson et al118
Selevan et al119
Country of
Study
US
US
US
US
US
Germany
Brazil
Nigeria
Norway
Libya
Hong Kong
Nigeria
Hong Kong
Tanzania
UK
France
Pakistan
US
US
Israel
Denmark
Czech
Republic
No. of
men
included
200
100
1000
340
Mean sperm
concentration
( × 106 per ml)
120.6
134.0
107.0
40.1
1300
100
185
53
51
1500
1239
100
36
120
49
1222
200
221
662
188
708
79.0
74.4
67.6
71.2
89.0
65.0
83.0
54.7
62.4
66.9
73.0
77.7
58.21
72.7
100.8
69.9
57.4
272
61.2
A survey of 1,350 sperm donors in Paris found
a decline in sperm counts by around 2% each year
over the past 23 years with total decline of 32%
and with younger men having the poorest-quality
semen27. Similar studies have also found that
sperm counts in the United States dropped by
about 25% during the 1980s28 and in Denmark
dropped by about 25% between 1952 and 197229.
In another study at the University Hospital in
Ghent, Belgium, researchers found that sperm
counts among sperm donors had declined to about
10 million per ml between 1977 and 199418.
Similarly at the Scotland’s Centre for
Reproductive Biology in Edinburgh, Stewart
Irvine reported a 40% decline among sperm
donors when sperm counts of men born in the
1940s was compared with men born in the late
1960s29. In a more extensive re-analysis of the
Carlsen data, Swan et al. confirmed a significant
mean sperm count decline of 1.5% per year in
USA between 1938 and 1988, and of 3.1% per
year in Europe between 1971 and 199030. The
incidence of male reproductive disorders such as
testicular cancer, cryptochidism, hypospadias have
increased as much as 3 or 4 times since the
1940s31. The concern about this adverse trend in
male reproductive health is that semen samples
where the concentration of sperms is below 40
million per ml may be associated with longer time
to conception or even subfertility, and low sperm
count where the concentration of sperms is below
15 million per ml may be associated with higher
risk of infertility. This downward trend in sperm
quality does not augur well for male fertility in
future.
Defining Infertility
Infertility is typically defined as failure to
conceive within a certain period of time. For the
male, this definition is particularly problematic, as
it relies on an outcome for his female partner, who
may have reproductive issues of her own.
Fecundability is the term used for the probability
of a woman in a sexually active couple becoming
pregnant
per
menstrual
cycle
without
contraception. It is customary to define infertility
clinically as the inability of a couple trying to
conceive to do so within one year. Infertility can
be classified as primary infertility when no
pregnancy has ever occurred or secondary if it
occurred after one or more pregnancies.
Approximately 15% of couples attempting their
first conception meet with a failure, and another
10% face secondary infertility32. Data available
over the past 20 years reveal that in approximately
30%-50% of the cases of infertility, the cause is
found in the man alone, and in another 20%, the
causes are found in both33 and in 50%-70%, the
causes are found in the female alone1. Experience
shows that many of these supposedly “infertile”
couples will eventually conceive, even without
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):152
Abarikwu
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
treatment. For example, 38% of couples attending
an infertility clinic in India conceived before any
treatment began, and another 27% conceived
before their treatment was completed34. The
difficulty inherent in defining infertility in this
manner is obvious: some couples without
reproductive dysfunction who wish to conceive
fail to do so probably due to inadequate coital
exposure or timing, while others have
reproductive-system dysfunction that prevents
conception (Table 3). If a good assay were
available for male reproductive function,
independent of the female, a practical definition of
male infertility would be “the condition of the
subset of males with a positive assay within the set
of couples that fail to conceive within one year.”
Such an assay does not currently exist.
Table 3: Causes of infertility among male and female partners of infertile Nigerian marriages over a fiveyear period (2001-2005)
Female causes of infertility and
associated findings
Tubular damage/Chronic pelvic
inflammatory disease
Unexplained infertility
Number of patients (%)
196 (45.1)
Male causes of infertility and Number of patients (%)
associated findings
Genital infections
78 (34.7)
109 (25.1)
Testicular failure
73 (32.4)
Failure of ovulation
63 (14.5)
Varicoceles
46 (20.4)
Co-existing uterine fibroids
32 (7.4)
Coital failure
15 (6.7)
Co-existing ovarian cysts
16 (3.7)
Congenital causes
8 (3.6)
Non-specific endometritis
Tuberculous endometritis
Endometriosis
Male/Female causes
Antisperm antibodies
9 (2.1)
5 (1.1)
5 (1.1)
90 (12) (out of 750)
1 out of 5 (20%)
Testicular torsion
Heat atrophy
Antisperm antibodies
4 (1.8)
1 (0.4)
22 out of 50*
Adapted from Ekwere et al1
* Positive by Slide Agglutination Techniques (SAT), and Gelatin Agglutination Technique (GAT)
Male-factor infertility in Nigeria: What could be
responsible for Seminal Quality Abnormality?
The rate of infertility in Nigeria was put at 11%9.
The true figure could be much higher because
Nigerian gynecologists frequently report that
infertility cases constitute between 60 and 70% of
their consultations in tertiary health institutions35.
It is reported that up to 30% of Nigerian couples
may have difficulty in conceiving a child after two
years of regular unprotected sexual intercourse6.
The most comprehensive study of infertility36 a
WHO study of 5,800 infertile couples seeking help
at 33 medical centers in 22 developed and
developing countries-found that female causes
accounted for between 25 to 37% of infertility
worldwide (with larger proportions in sub-Saharan
Africa and Southeast Asia), male causes accounted
for between 8 to 22%, and both male and female
causes accounted for between 21 to 38%. In
contrast to the results reported in the WHO study,
a positive male factor alone was found in 42.4% of
the couples in the Nigerian cohort, and in 25.8%,
the female alone appeared to be responsible. A
combination of male and female factors was found
in 20.7% of the couples, while the cause of
infertility was unexplained in 11.1% (Table 1)7. In
another study, 42.5% (171) of the subjects had a
sperm count of less than 20 million per ml; 13.9%
(56) of the subjects had azoospermia, while 53.2%
(214) had sperm motility of less than 50% 37. The
male factor contribution to infertility in these
Nigerian populations seems to be very high.
Similarly, at the Gynaecologic Out-patient Clinic
of Ogun State University Teaching Hospital,
Sagamu, Southwest Nigeria, the male factor
contribution to the incidence of infertility was
26.8%, female factor was 51.8% and both male
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):153
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Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
and female factors were contributory in 21.4%
cases and the incidence of infertility was found to
be 14.8%38. The results of the semen analysis of
one thousand, one hundred and ten (1,110) males
attending an infertility clinic at the University of
Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu,
Eastern Nigeria showed that the aetiology of male
infertility in the population seem to be unrelated to
sperm volume but related to sperm count, motility
and morphology39.
A follow-up community-based study of 17
males, whose female partners had been reported as
being infertile, showed that eight males (47%) had
severe semen abnormalities that could have been
responsible for the infertility reported in their
female partners40. Other studies have also shown
that azoospermia was present in 6.6% of males
attending a general infertility clinic and 35% in
those attending male infertility clinics41. The
failure of spermatogenesis and obstruction of the
ductal system particularly the vas deferens were
reported as the causes of the azoospermia and that
the obstruction of the vas deferens was not a major
cause of azoospermia42. It was reported that
infection of the seminal fluid was the major cause
of azoospermia in infertile males as infection is
known to damage the vas deferens and
seminiferous tubules thereby affecting the
circulating levels of follicle stimulating hormone
(FSH),
luteinizing
hormone
(LH),
and
testosterone43. One study in an African nation
reported that azoospermia was present in 31%
(192) and oligospermia in 69.40% (413) infertile
African males (595) attending male infertility
clinics. The azoospermia was caused by
obstruction to the vas deferens and/or epididymis
in 44% of cases and testicular lesions in the
remaining 56% of cases, whilst the oligospermia
was caused by obstruction to the vas deferens
and/or epididymis in 4.7% of cases and testicular
lesions in 85.3%44. A similar result was observed
in an infertility clinic in Lagos and Ibadan,
Southwestern Nigeria as reported in Ogunbanjo et
al.45 It is now thought that post bacterial infections
and idiopathic testicular pathology are common
causes of azoospermia in Nigeria43. Additionally, a
descriptive analysis of the seminal patterns of
infertile males at the University College Hospital,
Ibadan, in South-west Nigeria showed that
asthenozoospermia was the most common seminal
quality abnormality46. The study that was done at
the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital
in South-east Nigeria showed that oligozoospermia
(35.9%) and asthenozoospermia (32.3%) were the
most common aetiological factors responsible for
male infertility (Table 4)7. Similarly, 70% of the
study population (170) in a study conducted in a
private fertility clinic in Abakaliki, Eastern
Nigeria, had low sperm count with significantly
high
defective
parameters
(64%).
Asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia were the
major abnormal parameters recorded. Higher
prevalence of oligospermia was found in the civil
servants and the oligospermic semen (38%) was
associated with bacterial infection2. These data
seem to suggest that abnormal semen quality
remains a significant contribution to overall
infertility in the Nigerian environment may be
associated with genital infections.
Table 4: Semen abnormality of the infertile
Nigerian male partners
Male Factor
Azoospermia
Oligozoospermia
(< 20 million sperms per ml)
Asthenozoospermia
(Motility < 60% with normal count)
Mixed pathology
(Oligo ± astheno ± teratozoospermia)
Number of cases
N =198 %
34
17.2
71 35.9
64
32.3
29
14.6
Source: Ikechebelu et al7
The role Infections play in male infertility in the
Nigerian Environment
Studies have observed that testicular biopsies from
infertile Nigerian men showed a variety of
pathological conditions; the most prevalent was
hypospermatogenesis. Patients without testicular
biopsies had clinically detectable testicular or
epididymal abnormalities. There was a higher
incidence of inflammatory testicular or prostatic
conditions as compared with those found in
Europeans,
suggesting
that
inflammatory
conditions contribute more to male infertility in
Nigeria and other developing African nations45. In
the study by Ogunbanjo et al.45. The seminal fluid
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):154
Abarikwu
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
from 782 infertile Nigerian males (Table 5) were
examined over a period of ten years with respect to
infective agents and indices such as sperm count,
motility and the presence of a significant number
of pus cells. Various infective agents were
recovered from 7% of the patients, while in 25%
of the remaining patients, a significant number of
pus cells were present, with associated abnormal
seminal fluid indices. The authors suggested that
seminal fluids constituted an important medium
for the spread of various infective agents, and that
genital infections by these infective agents,
sexually and non-sexually transmitted, may be
responsible for a good percentage of infertility
cases in Nigerian males.
Table 5: Results of Seminal fluid examination
from infertile men over a 10-year study period
No. examined
No. found with infective agents
No. with evidence of infection*
(i.e. pus cells ≥ 5/HPF)
No. with < 20 x 106/ ml count
No. with < 50% motility
No. with infective agent but no pus cell
No. with no pus cells at all
782
54
221
562
622
1
30
Source: Ogunbanjo et al45
At ≥ 5/HPF, 72% and 86% showed < 50% sperm motility and
a sperm count of < 20 x 106/ ml, respectively. * Candida spp
Another study reported that testicular cancers
accounted for 0.14% of the male biopsies in
patients with suspected cases of testicular
malignancies in Ilorin, Southwest Nigeria and may
not be major contributory factors in male infertility
in Nigeria47. In another study of 456 men who
attended the sexually transmitted diseases clinic of
the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin
because of infertility, it was found that 159
(34.8%) and 297 (65.2%), presented with primary
and secondary infertility respectively and that the
7% bacteriospermia observed in the study may
have contributed to the male infertility48.
Similarly, at the fertility clinic of Olabisi
Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu,
in Western Nigeria, the overall prevalence of HIV
infection among 110 women and 49 of their male
partners was 8.2%, which was more than double
the reported prevalence among the general
population in Ogun State, Nigeria between January
2001 and December 2002. This has significant
effect on the seminal volume while the other
variable of semen quality was not affected. It
appears that a higher prevalence of HIV infection
is common among the infertile couples in the
Western Nigeria and it may be advisable to have
infertile couples screened for HIV based on the
prevalence of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa49. It was
also observed that sexually transmitted infections
(STIs) had significant effects on the seminal
quality of male partners of infertile couples during
a five year study period (1993-1997) at the
Gynecological and Urological units of Ife State
Hospital branch of Obafemi Awolowo University
Teaching Hospital complex Ile-Ife, Nigeria50. The
association of STDs and urinary tract infections to
the high rate of oligospermia and azoospermia was
also reported in Onitsha, eastern Nigeria. In this
study, Obiechina et al51. Analyzed the seminal
fluid of 628 men attending an infertility clinic at
St. Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha between
1994-1998. The authors reported that 63% had
normal sperm density, while 37% of the men, had
sperm density less than 20 million per ml
ejaculate. 6.2% of the patients were azoospermic.
44% of the patients had sperm motility that was
less than 50% while 21% of the samples contained
pathogens, with the most common pathogen being
staphylococcus aureus in 46% (n = 60).
Furthermore, in Calabar, Southern Nigeria, nearly
70% of all infertile men attending an infertility
clinic gave a history of current or previous
exposure to STIs and accounted for nearly 40% of
all cases of azoospermia52. Additionally,
mycoplasma and ureaplasma species were isolated
in the semen samples of 54 married men in their
fourth decade of life (30-39) and having problems
of infertility and with sperm counts less than 20
million/ml53. In view of the potential role of
ureaplasma urealyticum in reproductive failure,
samples of semen from 100 Nigerian males were
cultured in oxoid mycoplasma broth. In 39% of the
patients, Ureaplasma urealyticum was cultured. Of
those with positive culture, 92.3% were infertile
patients. Five sub fertile males with sperm
concentrations of 20-35 million/ml achieved
pregnancy with their partners after eradication of
the ureaplasma urealyticum by a course of
tetracycline54. Apparently, ureaplasma urealyticum
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):155
Abarikwu
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
could attach to sperm cells and this may have an
inhibitory effect on fertilization. The aetiology of
male infertility in the Nigerian population studied
seems to be related to the influence of genital
mycoplasma and ureaplasma species on sperm
count. Infections in the male genito-urinary tract
including infections of the epididymis, seminal
vesicles, prostate, bladder and urethra are known
to play a major role in many cases of infertility55.
The exact extent of the role they play is largely
unknown because of the lack of suitable diagnostic
criteria coupled with the asymptomatic nature of
many infections. The presence of antisperm
antibodies is considered to be a good indicator of a
chronic infection in the absence of other clinical
findings.
There are also a wide variety of bacteria,
viruses, and other organisms which can infect the
male genito-urinary system. Chlamydia is now
recognized as the most common and the most
critical of infection in the male genitourinary
tract55. In men chlamydia is a major cause of acute
non-bacterial prostatitis and urethritis. It is
estimated that 28 to 71% of infertile men have
evidence of a chlamydial infection55. Furthermore,
a recent five year case-control study 150 fertile
and infertile Nigerian men reported that 42.7% of
the infertile men had sperm count < 5 million/ml
(Table 6). The abnormal semen parameters were
significantly associated with bacteria in cultures.
The most common organisms grown were
Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus fecalis,
Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida albicans. The
authors further observed that the infertile men
were more likely to have bacterial organisms in
semen cultures than fertile men56. Sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) may be important
local factors for male infertility in Nigeria, and has
been poorly investigated for its association with
male infertility in Nigeria. Several sexually
transmitted bacteria such as Neisseria gonorrheae
and Chlamydia trachomatis are also highly
prevalent in Nigeria56, which are known to damage
the male genital tract. The number of infertile men
attending STI clinics in Nigeria is also high56. This
would be relevant in relationship between previous
exposure to STIs and infertility in Nigerian men.
In conclusion, infection play an important role in
the aetiology of male infertility and the high
prevalence of male infertility in Nigeria is often
compounded by infection of the genital area
particularly STIs.
Table 6: Results of Semen analysis of fertile and infertile Nigerian men over a period of four (4) years
(1999-2003)
Variables
Semen concentration
˃ 20 million/mL
> 10-20 million/mL
> 5-10 million/mL
< 5 million/mL
Azoospermia
Sperm motility
> 50%
30-50%
< 30%
Azoospermia
Viable form
0
> 50%
30-50%
< 30%
Azoospermia
Semen culture
No bacteria growth
Positive bacterial growth
Fertile
N
Infertile
N
%
145
5
-
96.7
3.3
147
3
-
98.0
2.0
132
17
1
113
37
88
11.3
0.7
75.3
24.7
P
%
12
15
17
64
42
8.0
10.0
11.3
42.7
28.0
< 0.001
26
23
59
42
17.3
15.3
39.4
28.0
< 0.001
13
25
35
35
42
82
68
8.7
16.7
23.3
23.3
28.0
55.0
45.0
< 0.001
< 0.001
Source: Okonofua et al56
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):156
Abarikwu
The prevalence of endocrinopathy
infertile Nigerian men
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
among
Endocrinopathy is the presence of an abnormality
in the serum hormonal panel without necessarily
implying a primary endocrine cause of
infertility. To determine the pattern of hormonal
abnormalities and testicular pathology in
azoospermic male Nigerians in Kano, Northern
Nigeria, semen samples from consecutive
azoospermic infertile males attending the fertility
clinic at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano,
were analyzed over a period of six months, after
which serum FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin
were assayed, and histological examination of
testicular biopsies done. Of the 80 subjects
studied, 32 (40%) had abnormal hormonal levels,
48 (60%) had normal hormonal values and 36
(45%) had evidence of testicular pathology. In
another study, the same authors analyzed these
hormones in a total of five hundred males, aged
between 28 and 56 years over a period of 4 years
(2001-2004). Hormonal abnormalities were
detected in 22% of oligospermic, 41% of severely
oligospermic, and 43% azoospermic subjects57.
Similarly, an observational, retrospective study32
conducted on 1,201 men (mean age of 35.7 years)
in Northern Nigeria investigated for infertility at
the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital,
over a two-year period, (2004-2006) showed that
96 (7.9%), underwent hormonal assessment
because of abnormalities of their sperm counts. 68
(71%) patients had primary infertility and 72
(75%) had azoospermia. 88 (92%) patients had
abnormal hormonal assays, giving a prevalence of
endocrine abnormality of 7.3% (Table 7).
Therefore, endocrinopathy is also common among
infertile Nigerian men as with their counterparts
elsewhere. However, the prevalence of
endocrinopathy of 7.3% was lower than that
reported from Kenya58, an African country, but
higher than that reported from Brazil a developing
country like Nigeria59. However, it was within the
range reported in the literature60. The majority
(71%) of the patients in the study population were
found to have primary infertility, which was
similar to the study from the Southeastern part of
Nigeria7 and another study conducted in the
United Kingdom61 However, a report from Ile-Ife
in Southwestern Nigeria showed a preponderance
of secondary infertility62. This may be related to
the adverse effects of lifestyle factors in
Southwestern Nigeria. The azoospermia reported
in Geidam et al32 was higher than that reported in a
previous study in the same hospital62, a
Southwestern Nigerian study50 and another study
conducted in Ghana44. The study population
consisted of only patients with azoospermia and
severe oligospermia and that could be the reason
for the high percentage of azoospermics observed
in their study. Overall, these data suggest that
endocrine abnormalities are common in
azoospermic infertile Nigerian males.
Table 7: Age group, type of infertility, sperm
counts and endocrinological diagnosis of subjects
evaluated for infertility in Northern Nigeria.
Demographical profile
Age group (years)
< 25
25-40
> 40
Mean (range)
Type of infertility
Primary
Secondary
Sperm count (million/ml)
0 (azoospermia)
<5
Endocrinological diagnosis
Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
Partial androgen resistance
Germinal epithelial failure
Hyperprolactinaemia
Normal
No. (%) (n= 96)
4 (4.2)
73 (76.0)
19 (19.8)
35.7 (22-52)
68 (70.8)
28 (29.2)
72 (75)
24 (25)
40 (41.7)
4 (4.20)
12 (12.5)
24 (25.0)
8 (8.30)
8 (8.30)
Source: Geidam et al32
Risk Factors that may be Responsible for the
Decreasing Male Fertility
Effects of Toxic Metals Exposure and smoking
on Male Fertility
A number of epidemiological studies provided
equivocal results concerning the effects of lead
and cadmium on hormone concentration, male
infertility and sperm parameters63. Geographic
differences in the amount of naturally occurring
cadmium have been correlated with incidence rates
of prostate cancer64. Major changes in the levels of
toxic elements in seminal fluid have been related
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):157
Abarikwu
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
to abnormal spermatozoa function and fertilizing
capacity65. Cadmium has been detected in
significantly high level in serum of men who were
smokers and implicated this metal as one of the
causes of asthenoteratozoospermia 65. Nigerian
environments have been reported to be highly
polluted by toxic metals, especially lead and
cadmium66. Cigarette smoking is an important
variable when considering the effect of both lead
and cadmium exposure on human health. A single
cigarette has been reported to contain 1.5 µg of
cadmium. Moreover, one tenth of the metal
content of a cigarette is inhaled67. The incidence of
unwilling exposure to second-hand cigarette
smoke is very high in Nigeria. Unlike in most
developed countries, there are no smoking
restrictions in public places in Nigeria except
hazardous areas such as petrochemical filling
stations. In a recent study, the relationship between
Cd levels and spermatograms or the hypothalamicpituitary-gonadal (HPG)–axis and the correlation
of serum and seminal plasma Cd levels with
semen characteristics and hormone levels was
evaluated in 60 infertile Nigerian men. The serum
and seminal plasma Cd levels were increased in
azoospermic
men
in
comparison
to
oligozoospermic and control subjects while a
significant negative correlation was observed
between serum Cd level and all examined
biophysical semen characteristics except sperm
volume. A positive correlation between seminal
plasma Cd and FSH was also observed. The results
demonstrate the role of cadmium in infertility in
male Nigerians 66. Cumulative evidence suggests
that cigarette smoking may have a deleterious
effect on male fertility by reducing sperm
production, motility and increasing the number of
abnormal sperm68. Smokers are 60% more likely
to be infertile than non-smokers. Cigarette
smokers were also shown to have higher levels of
circulating estradiol and decreased levels of LH,
FSH and prolactin than non-smokers, all of which
can negatively impact spermatogenesis 68. Smokers
with low prolactin levels also demonstrated
defects in sperm motility68. Other heavy metals
including mercury and chromium may have
implications for reproductive dysfunction (Table
8) but there is limited evidence to show that
human exposure to mercury and chromium has
deleterious effects on the male reproductive
system, therefore available data in this regards
appear inconclusive and need further study69,70.
Table 8: Effects of exposure to chemical agents on male fertility
Substance
Metals
Effect
Lead
Cadmium
Chromium
Mercury
zoospermia
Pesticides
Plasticizers
Mycotoxins
Alcohol
Reduced sperm count and motility
Spontaneous abortions, Birth defects
Reduction in fertility
Spermatogenesis impairment
Reduced semen quality
Changes in semen quality
Testicular atrophy
Decreased sperm count, terato/astheno
DBCP
Impaired fertility index
Decreased sperm count, Azoospermia
High serum LH and FSH and infertility
2, 4-D
Carbaryl
DPrP, DPP
Aflatoxins
Testicular dysfunction
Astheno/teratozoospermia
Decreased sperm function
Decreased fertility, testicular atrophy
Astheno/teratozoospermia
Changes in hormone production
References
Roy Chowdhury et al69
Telisman et al120
Matthies et al121
Kumal122
Telisman et al120
Li et al70
Kumal122
Kumal122
Matthies et al121
Potashnik et al 123
Kumal122
Slutsky et al71
Kumal122
Lerda and Rizzi73
Petrelli124
Foster et al84
Ibeh et al85
Emanuele and Emanuele94
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):158
Abarikwu
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
Exposure to Pesticides, Industrial Chemicals and
mycotoxins
The spermatotoxic effects of dibromochloropropane
(DBCP), a nematocide widely used in agriculture
was reported in the early 1960’s in rodents by
animal toxicologist but their reports went
essentially unnoticed until the late 1970’s when
oligospermia and azoospermia were reported in
manufacturing plant workers and pesticides
applicators71. It was noted that there was limited
childbearing among the workers after they started
working in DBCP production. About half of the
DBCP-exposed azoospermic men remained that
way for many years suggesting that all of the stem
spermatogonia may have been compromised. 71
Others experienced a recovery in their sperm
count, but in some cases the recovery did not
occur until 3 to 6 years later71. Furthermore, the
men had high levels of FSH and LH in serum
indicating that DBCP action is directly on the
Leydig cells causing alterations in androgen
production and action71.
Other pesticides such as Dichloro-diphenyltrichloroethane
(DDT),
endosulphan;
and
organophosphorus pesticides i.e. malathion,
methyl-parathion, dimethoate, monocrotophos,
phosphamidon
and
quinalphos;
synthetic
pyrethroids such as fenvelrate and cypermethrin
have been reported to show male-mediated
adverse reproductive outcome such as abortion,
stillbirths, neonatal deaths, congenital defects,
e.t.c. among occupationally exposed workers72. A
significantly higher level of asthenozoospermia
and teratozoospermia was found in 2, 4dichlorophenoxy acetic acid exposed workers as
compared to unexposed control subjects73.
Pesticides with oestrogen-mimetic properties
including dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, a
major metabolite of DDT, dieldrin, lindane and
pentachlorophenol have been shown to decrease
sperm counts in man74. Atrazine, a widely used
chloro-s-triazine herbicide, has also been reported
to reduce semen quality in men75 and also in
animal models76. The direct effect of atrazine on
rat testicular cells has also been demonstrated in
vitro and was reported as the mechanism
responsible for spermatogenesis abnormality in
rats77-79. Although DDT production has been
banned in the United States for more than two
decades, new factories are still being built to
produce DDT in some developing nations. The
presence of these chemicals in some developing
countries is of concern since they are probably
accumulating to harmful levels. Because of its
persistence (it has a half-life of about 100 years)
and it’s recycling in food chains especially in fats,
DDT is detectable in the body fat of most people80.
Vinclozolin, a fungicide used on many types of
fruits and vegetables, has been shown to be a
potent anti-androgen, blocking the effects of the
male sex
hormones
and resulting in
demasculinisation of male offsprings which is
accompanied by a decrease in sperm count in the
exposed81. Dioxin (2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-pdioxin), the most toxic man-made chemical, can
block the action of estrogens under certain
conditions and thus decrease Sertoli cell number 82.
There is a significant relationship between the
number of Sertoli cells and the number of
spermatozoa83. Therefore any factor that could
alter the Sertoli cell multiplication and
differentiation during testis development, during
fetal life or before puberty, or irreversibly damage
the Sertoli cells after puberty, will reduce the
number of spermatozoa produced by the testis.
The anti-fertility effects of phthalate esters
(Table 8) have been demonstrated in animal and
human studies and were associated with decreased
weight of the testis and epididymis, decreased
epididymal sperm concentration, and increased
seminiferous tubule atrophy84. Ibeh et al.85 first
reported higher concentrations of aflatoxin B1
(AFB1) in the semen of infertile Nigerian men
than those in fertile controls and concluded that
the consumption of AFB1 contaminated diets may
predispose to male infertility in Nigeria 85. Over 5
billion people in developing countries worldwide
are at risk of chronic exposure to AFB1 through
food products contaminated by the fungal molds.
The Infertile men with aflatoxin in their semen
showed a higher percentage of spermatozoal
abnormalities (50%) than the fertile men (1015.0%). In animals fed with AFB1 contaminated
feeds, the deleterious effects on the spermatozoa
of affected rats, produced features that resemble
those seen in semen of infertile men exposed to
aflatoxin85. From the above data, it is plausible that
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):159
Abarikwu
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
pesticides, industrial chemicals, and contaminants
of food such as aflatoxins might produce some
adverse reproductive health effects in humans, and
might be implicated in the declining fertility of the
males. In developing nations such as in Nigeria,
where regulations on the use and disposal of these
chemicals are less restricted than in developed
nations, exposure may be greater, and risks may be
higher. Furthermore, locally endemic factors such
the consumption of aflatoxin contaminated food
products may be important in the causation of
male infertility in Nigeria.
Nutritional Considerations
Numerous antioxidants nutrients such as vitamin
C, vitamin E, glutathione and coenzyme Q10 have
been documented in several studies as having
modulatory effects on sperm parameters86. These
positive effects may not be observed in Nigeria
because of the well-recognized deficiency of
protective micronutrients in this sub-region87.
Studies have shown that the concentration of
ascorbic acid in seminal plasma directly reflects
dietary intake, and lower levels of vitamin C may
lead to infertility and increased damage to the
sperm genetic material88. Very little is known
about vitamin C status in Nigerian males with
impaired fertility.
Ebesunun et al.89 determined ascorbate levels in
the plasma of 27 Nigerian males with inadequate
spermatogenesis. There were significant decreases
in the seminal and plasma ascorbic acid
concentrations in the males who had inadequate
spermatogenesis compared with the control values.
The plasma low density lipoprotein and
triglyceride concentrations were significantly high
in all the patients. However, the plasma lipid and
lipoprotein levels did not demonstrate any definite
pattern with respect to sperm characteristics. The
authors concluded that semen ascorbate levels may
play a significant role in reduced sperm
characteristics in these patients89. Selenium and
glutathione are essential to the formation of
phospholipid gluthathione peroxidase, an enzyme
present in spermatids, which becomes a structural
protein comprising over 50% of the mitochondrial
capsule in the midpiece of mature spermatozoa.
Deficiencies of either substance can lead to
instability of the mid-piece, resulting in defective
motility86. It was reported that normospermic
infertile patients from Nigerian male partners of
infertile marriages, exhibited higher serum
manganese levels when compared with
oligospermic and azoospermic men which may
have effects on sperm count concentration90.
Akinloye et al.91 correlated the selenium
concentrations in oligo/azoospermic men with the
spermatogram and hormonal levels in order to
determine their relationship and significance in
male infertility. The serum levels of selenium were
found to be significantly increased in oligospermic
compared to azoospermic subjects and controls
whereas the seminal plasma levels were
significantly higher in azoospermic compared to
oligospermic subjects and controls. A significant
inverse correlation was also observed between
serum selenium level and sperm count. Similarly,
seminal plasma selenium correlated with
spermatozoa motility, viability, and morphology.
Serum selenium levels show positive correlation
with the serum testosterone levels. There appears
to be a physiological balance in the distribution of
selenium in serum and seminal plasma
compartment of control males which might have a
significant influence on spermatogenesis if
compromised.
Other risk factors for male-factor infertility
Other risk factors for male infertility include
chemotherapeutic agents, radiation exposure, and a
variety of pharmaceutical agents that act either as
direct spermatotoxins or through a steroidal
pathway. Other equally important factors with
high prevalence in Nigeria include previous
exposure to drugs, concurrent medical illnesses, as
well as surgical procedures, such as hernia repairs
and the use of native medications. Common drugs
known to impair male fertility include cimetidine,
sulfasalazine, nitrofurantoin, cannabis, and
androgenic steroids92. Men and women around the
world are exposed to the effects of nicotine,
alcohol, caffeine, and other chemically active
substances every time they smoke a cigarette, have
a beer, or drink a cup of coffee. These habits may
pose a problem for men with borderline fertility93.
Several studies reported that alcohol is the
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):160
Abarikwu
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
principal cause of hypogonadism seen in alcoholic
men and could cause testicular failure94. Therefore
it is possible that the increased consumption of
alcohol among men today could be a contributory
factor to the global fertility crisis the human
species is facing. Whether nicotine results in
impaired male fertility is controversial; however,
because of its negative effect on erectile function,
nicotine use is discouraged in men attempting to
conceive with their partners95. There is also the
risk of STI, which are either not treated or
treatment by sufferers not adequate, this result in
poor spermatogenesis later.
A number of occupations are being reported as
risk factors for male infertility. For example, an
insult to spermatogenesis has been reported among
professional drivers who are exposed to the
products of fuel consumption, noise, vibration,
emotional stress, physical load on the pelvic
organs, and increased temperature in the pelvis
because of prolonged sitting96. Intense exposure to
heat in the workplace (for example, Nigerian men
working in furnaces or in bakeries), long soaks in
the bath tub, use of laptops, and excessive
bicycling can cause the temperature in the scrotum
to increase enough to impair sperm production.
Another example is that of welders, who are
exposed to heat, solvents, heavy metals and
noise96. Also vulnerable to this risk are men who
wear tight pants which hold the testes close to the
body97. Noticeable improvement in sperm count
has been observed when the tight underwear is
discarded97. Skin tight underwears are very
popular among adolescent Nigerian males. Poor
semen quality such as low sperm count and
decreased sperm function has been reported in
men exposed to occupational agents in the
workplace. Occupational chemical agents with
negative effect on fertility include heavy metals,
pesticides and other agricultural agents, industrial
chemicals, estrogens and estrogen derivatives are
shown in (Table 8). Furthermore, global warming
and increased temperatures may be affecting
normal sperm production, as it is known that
testicles are anatomically positioned on the
exterior of males because sperm production is
highly temperature dependent, particularly because
spermatozoa which are susceptible to denaturation
at high temperatures. However in countries with
hot climates the theory is not supported as birth
rates are relatively high, e.g. India and Africa, so
this factor has not been supported by evidence.
With increasing ozone layer depletion due to the
use of aerosols in the past and currently in some
countries, more radiation is reaching the earth.
Exposure to radiation has further increased with
the invention of televisions, microwaves, x-rays,
nuclear weapons and the construction of power
stations. It has been demonstrated that radiation
reduces sperm production in adult males98. The
effects of radiation on sperm production are more
pronounced in children and the effects are seen at
lower doses than those seen in adults. Mumps viral
infections in adolescent and adult males carry an
up to 30% risk that the testes may become infected
resulting in orchitis, epididymitis or epididymoorchitis, which can be quite painful; about half of
these infections result in testicular atrophy, and in
rare cases sterility can follow99 Congenital
abnormalities (cryptorchidism and testicular
dysgenesis, congenital absence of the vas
deferens); acquired urogenital abnormalities
(obstructions, testicular torsion, testicular tumour,
orchitis, urogenital tract infections; increased
scrotal temperature (e.g. as a consequence of
varicocele); and immunological factors are also
widely accepted as causes of infertility.
Furthermore, in male infertility, the frequency
of genetic factors is high and may be responsible
for about 15% of infertile male subjects100,101. The
possible relationship between androgen receptor
gene CAG and GGN polymorphisms and reduced
spermatogenesis have been reported in infertile
Nigerian men (Table 9)102. The unique distribution
in the polymorphism of the (GGN) repeats in the
Nigerian population could suggest the possibility
of a geographical diversity on male-factor
contribution to infertility in the Nigerian
population102. Other causes of male infertility
includes,
societal
pressures
leading
to
psychological problems. Psychological factors and
stress-induced changes in heart rate and cortisol
are predictive of a decreased probability of
achieving a viable pregnancy96. Since stress is the
brain-body connection, this raises the possibility
that a history of high levels of cumulative stress
associated with recurrent depression or anxiety
may be an important causative factor. The pressure
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):161
Abarikwu
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
even is more when the infertile couples see their
friends and peers begin to have children while they
are unable to have their own. This may push them
to turn to infertility treatments. These treatments,
whether done by traditional healers or medical
professionals, can put additional stress especially
on the woman. The stress is greatest when the
couple has great faith that the treatments are going
to work but then fail. Thus, psychological stress
can represent part of the aetiology of male
infertility and can also be a result of the infertility
itself. The significance of psychological stress as
an independent aetiological factor in the current
global male fertility crisis is increasingly being
recognized but has not been supported by good
studies96,103.
Table 9: Group statistics of clinical parameters evaluated in patient and control Nigerian males
Parameters
a
Age (yr)
Spermiogram
Semen volume (mL)
Sperm count (106/vol)
Sperm concentration (106/mL)
% motility
Morphology (%)
b
Hormones
LH (U/l)
FSH (U/l)
Testosterone (nmol/l)
Azoospermia
(No =20)
36.4±5.34
Oligozoospermia
(No =40)
38.65±6.13
Control
(No =38)
35.92±6.37
F/chi-q
p
2.15
0.123
3.0 (1.5-10)
0
0
0
0
2.8 (1-6)
17 (0.05-96)
6.9 (0.01-16.3)
22.5 (0-80)
42.5 (10-70)
3.0 (1-6)
124 (44-320)
41.35 (20-167)
70 (50-90)
72.5 (50-90)
0.18
95.55
84.69
72.44
75.65
0.912
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
13.35 (4.229.9)
22.9 (2.853.5)
17.55 (1.5-75)
5.3 (0.9-16)
5.7 (0.9-20.4)
13.7 (1.4-37.3)
4.4 (1.1-11.5)
3.9 (1-18.8)
17.9 (2.9-46.5)
19.48
27.62
1.99
0.000
0.000
0.368
20 (17-26)
20 (19-24)
20.5 (14-26)
21 (17-24)
19.5 (14-28)
20 (18-23)
1.67
1.18
0.452
0.555
b
a
Androgen Receptor
CAG
GGN
a
Values expressed as mean±SD, statistical analysis by analysis of variance; bvalues expressed as median (range), statistical
analysis by Kruskal-Wallis-Test.
Source: Akinloye et al102
Conclusions
The Male factor contribution to infertility has
become relevant in Nigeria constituting about 50%
of all infertility cases. This confirms international
research on the high prevalence of infertility
around the world in recent times. In tropical Africa
such as in Nigeria, the problem is further
compounded by a variety of factors including
higher exposure risk to toxic chemicals such as
agrochemicals, cadmium, lead and aflatoxins as
well as the high prevalence of sexually transmitted
infections which are often not properly treated and
as such now assuming epidemic proportions in
many areas.
Clearly any effort to reduce the prevalence of
male infertility in Nigeria must largely focus on
the prevention and prompt treatment of sexually
transmitted infections. Other important risk factors
include tobacco smoking, excessive alcohol intake,
use of native medications and drugs, low socioeconomic status and having multiple sexual
partners amongst others. The exploration of
psychological factors is also an important factor to
consider in the management of this devastating
problem which has both cultural and social impact
on infertile Nigerian couples. Efforts by the
Nigerian government through the Nigerian Federal
Ministry of Health and related governmental and
non-governmental health-care providers through
various program initiatives to address these
problems could be beneficial in reducing the rate
of male infertility in Nigeria. Such programs
should include measures to reduce smoking in
public places and the level of alcohol
consumption, information on responsible sexual
habits, or ‘safer sex’ strategies for people having
multiple sex partners, including mutual
African Journal of Reproductive Health December 2013; 17(4):162
Abarikwu
Nigerian Male Reproductive Health
monogamy, non-penetrative sex, and consistent
use of barrier contraceptive methods. However, as
most of the studies conducted so far in Nigeria do
not prove a cause and effect relationship between
infertility and the risk factors, it is necessary to
conduct epidemiological studies to identify the
causative factors for male infertility in Nigeria.
Such information is needed, as it would enable the
design of programs to prevent male infertility in
the country. There is also an urgent need to look at
the indiscriminate use and disposal of
environmental chemicals especially pesticides,
industrial chemicals as the chemicals enter the
food chains and surface and ground water and
could be potential for exposure during the critical
period of development. It is also important to
educate the Nigerian populace about the safe use
of chemicals, and their effects on reproductive
function. Furthermore, if the hypothesis of fetal
origin of male infertility is true, then getting more
information on estrogenic toxic chemicals and
understanding how they control the reproductive
system should be a priority for active
investigation/future research.
Declaration
The author conceived and designed the study,
collected and analyzed the data as well as prepared
the manuscript.
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